Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Well, some of you have asked whether I've lost more weight. Since having the Mirena removed I have lost 20 pounds, however, due to love of cake and job depression, I've hit a slump and not gone to the gym lately. The GOOD news is that I haven't gained back any of the 20 pounds I lost, the bad news is that I haven't lost. I don't know though, because I have somehow lost more than the scale is indicating. I was wearing size 24 jeans (YEAH....), and now am fitting into size 18s, even with my cake laziness. I also bought a size 16 dress, which is suddenly hanging on me like a potato sack. I mean, it's going somewhere right?? I guess when I apply myself, I really will be a skinny minny once again.

We are switching gyms to get away from the jerky gym we go to now. The new one is this fancy snazzy place with a swimming pool (just what I need!!), and steam rooms. It's the Cadillac of gyms, (whereas the one we go to now is the Ford Pinto of gyms). I also have signed up for a semester of yoga at a studio close to my house. I used to practice diligently, and need to get back into it. I feel like once this happens, I'll be inspired again and the weight will continue to melt off.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Just wanted to write another quick update about me. You'll be happy to hear that I've lost almost 20 pounds, with diet change and 3 days a week of exercise. It's coming off slowly but consistently every week, a pound here, and 2 pounds there. I feel energetic, sexy, and good about myself.

I am doing a combination of Weight Watchers and reading these books by Gillian McKeith, who is a holistic doctor. She has this crazy show on BBC called "You Are What You Eat", and I started watching at first out of amusement and general "Wow this lady is totally crazy", but slowly got into it, and was inspired enough to read her books. I highly recommend watching, or even going to her web site to check her out. The run down of Gillian's lifestyle is no alcohol, caffine, red meat, refined sugar, dairy, or processed foods. I haven't followed it to the letter (I do like to relax with red wine on the weekends, and I'm a monster without coffee), but I have cut out the other things. I don't like red meat much anyway, and processed foods freak me out the more I read about them, so that has been easy. I am eating lots of fruit/veg, whole grains, beans, chicken, turkey, and fish. It's awesome, and I feel great.

Getting the IUD out has been the best thing I've ever done. I'm not sure where you ladies are in your life, but make your husband get a vasectomy and take out the IUD. I literally have just transformed slowly, not just to my old self, but a better self. I am much more conscious about my health and what I put into my body, be it medication or food. The experience taught me that doctors will keep information from you if it makes them the almighty dollar. I mean, most of you have experienced that, right? Doctors telling us, "Oh Mirena won't make you gain weight, have high blood pressure, or feel bad in any way."

Sorry for the ramble! :) I just feel really really good and felt like sharing!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Hey ladies, sorry it's been so long since I've written. Work is hectic (what's new though!), so it's hard for me to get to blog.

I am pleased to report that I am finally losing weight, although I finally had to break down and join Weight Watchers. I do highly recommend the program though, I have been on it a week and a half so far. I have already lost 7 pounds, and feel better than I have in months!! The program is really awesome, and I haven't felt hungry or bummed out even once. I have non-stop energy, especially now that I am exercising even more. I finally feel like my body is totally returned to normal, and of course, seeing weight loss results feels damn good. Also I'm pleased to report that my stomach has stopped bloating at random intervals, which it was doing on and off even after the IUD removal.

I am proud of those of you who got the IUD removed. Remember, you know what's best for your body, now give your doctors hell!!

Friday, April 4, 2008

This is in response to Cathie regarding post-removal bleeding. I have been pretty fortunate in that department. I am actually in the middle of my second period since the removal, and other than being heavy, everything is normal.

In your case, make sure you're monitoring the situation closely with your doctor. If you are having heavy bleeding and clots, I would also recommend taking iron supplements.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

I'm so sorry that I haven't been around lately. Things with work/life have been crazy, etc, and I haven't had a spare moment to work. They are getting really facist at work about personal websites, but that's a whole other story.

Update with me....well, things are going okay. I will sadly report that I have not had a dramatic decrease of weight, but a lot of that is on me I think. Due to being so busy lately, my eating habits have gotten sloppy, plus, the hubby and I both love sweets. I am still working out 3-4 days a week, and I have noticed a much bigger muscle gain in my arms and legs, which wasn't happening before. I do think I will eventually lose the weight. I basically am going to have to undo a year of the Mirena, which is no small feat. I gained all the weight around the stomach/hip area, which is the worst part to lose. I have lost a few pounds, I can tell, but I simply need to work my butt a little harder!

Other than that, I feel wonderful! My mood is mellow, my blood pressure is back to normal, and I am loving sex and life in general all over again. My husband got a vasectomy and we're finally all clear, so I will never have to use stupid birth control EVER AGAIN.

I do read each and every comment here, and I am still appalled at how crappy this birth control is. I worry about each and every person who tells their story, and I hope that you ladies have gotten your Mirenas out and that you're seeing results. Thank you for taking the time to write, and please know that you are being heard. I hope that those of you that have written are feeling better. :)

I will be better about writing. In the meantime, keep making comments, and keep spreading the word!!

Monday, March 3, 2008

After so much serious talk, I just thought I'd pass on something that gave me a great laugh. It was a skit that was on Saturday Night Live last week, and I know all you ladies will appreciate it. It's a spoof on all those stupid birth control commercials that tout how you will hardly ever have a period when you use their birth control pill. Considering all I've gone through this last year, I related and had a good laugh! Tina Fey rocks!

Speaking of periods, mine has finally come. It wasn't really a "hold on to your hat" situation. Frankly I was really surprised. Since the IUD removal, I have had several "mini-periods", where I would bleed for 1-2 hours and then it would stop and not happen again for a few days. Some might call that spotting, but I say if you have to use a tampon and it's more than half "used", then it's a mini-period. On Saturday I was experiencing more of the same, and thought that it would just go away. Well, no, it's back and quite heavy. It's pretty non-eventful, no cramps, no mood swings, and no bloating, so that's good. I'm mainly all thumbs because I haven't had a period for a year, so it's weird getting used to it.

All in all, it's a good thing. Having a period is a natural and normal thing, and I am pleased that my body is working itself out and trying to get in a normal synch again. As funny as that Tina Fey video is, it has a ring of truth to it. Not having a period really wacks you out. I'd much rather deal with it than not.

I suppose I am a little less bummed out about my weight. My stomach seems to bloat and unbloat at a moment's notice. My husband has been telling me that I've lost weight, but since he is a wonderful person, I just assumed he was being nice and saying the things he is supposed to say. However, my aunt saw me today for the first time since my Mirena removal and said, "Oh my gosh, you've really lost weight!" I suppose there is something to it, although the weight has come off on weird places like my arms and ankles. The waistband of my pants is still so tight.

Other than that, I am feeling great. I have felt so mellow since the IUD removal. I haven't had those gnarly mood swings, and the mood around the house is so much more relaxed. My sex life is back, and that has me in an even better mood!

I hope you ladies are having a good week. Keep posting, and to those of you who have gotten your IUDs removed, please keep us posted on how things are going.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

I know it's only been 2 weeks since I've gotten my IUD out, but I am so pissed/frustrated/upset that I haven't lost a single pound. What is the deal, seriously?? I work my stupid ass off at the gym, eat salads when what I really want is a fat cheeseburger, and try to remain positive. Nothing still. I mean, is it the hormones? Are they still lingering around? Is my body still traumatized? I just don't even know anymore. That stupid inch and a half of plastic has just ruined my body it seems.

To those of you who have had the IUD removed...how soon did you notice weight loss results? A month? More?

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

So, I am frustrated that I haven't lost any weight yet. I haven't gained, but haven't lost either. I know it's been only a week since I got my IUD out, but I am so frustrated. It sucks to work your ass off at the gym with no results, AND to have those stupid personal trainer guys come up to you trying to pitch training sessions (aka, we think you're a tubby woman that we can con into this). When I brushed them off, the guy snottily asked me if I was meeting my fitness goals (aka, you sure don't look like you've met any fitness goals). Men truly don't understand. Anyway, personal trainers are a WHOLE other rant for another blog!

I am also annoyed that my body can't make up its mind whether it wants to have a period or not. I will have a flow heavy enough for me to scramble for a tampon, and then it goes away in a few hours. It happens just about every other day. I guess I should be careful what I wish for, but I really wish my body would just follow through and have the period of the century and get it over with. It's like come on body, could we please start getting back to normal?!?!

On a positive note, getting the Mirena removed will cure any libido problems you have. When I had the Mirena, I went from having a better than healthy drive, to being almost annoyed when my husband initiated. I couldn't get turned on at all, which sucked, because the hubby does everything right and then some. Well, without elaborating, I am just about back to normal, and I am loving it! It's the one area where I feel like I'm succeeding, and it makes me feel like a real woman again, if that makes any sense.

I started taking Vitamin D supplements, and I think that has helped with my mood, as well as the IUD removal. Vit. D is proven to help depression, plus your body needs it for calcium absorbtion. So ladies, make sure you are getting enough Vit. D, especially if you've been feeling blue lately! I am trying to go as natural as I can, and thwart off the pesky Rx meds the doctors think are so wonderful.

That's all for now. Hope you ladies are doing well, and that post-IUD life is going well for you.

Friday, February 15, 2008

First of all, I want to thank those of you who have visited so far and commented. Just knowing there are other women out there with similar situations has been so helpful. I hope that other women can stumble on this blog and have a place to reference if their Mirena is giving them problems. I think keeping a dialogue going is so important.

According to my scale, I'm the same weight, but I don't think that's accurate. The shape of my body has changed very subtly, and my clothes are fitting slightly better. I pulled on a pair of pajama pants that I haven't worn in a long time last night, and they fit for the first time in a long time. Although I know that it may take some time for the hormones to flush from my body, and that things won't return to normal in mere days, I am so impatient! I want to start losing weight and get my life back. I guess all I can do is work hard in the gym and be patient. I suspect it may take a month or so for my body to regulate. I still am trying to remain positive. I have hopes that soon, with hard work, I will feel sexy and good about myself again.

Most of the changes I have noticed have been very subtle. I had no idea how bloated I truly was. I couldn't lean forward without feeling smothered, and it was also slightly painful. Now it feels like normal, and my stomach isn't hard.

I reported the other night that my period started. I did have some bleeding, but it stopped within a day. It was enough for me to need tampons though. Since then I have been spotting on and off. I really honestly want to have a period, just to regulate my body and get it to a normal stage.

I have noticed that my mood has been a little calmer, and I felt a twinge of my good old sex drive returning. It has taken me much less time to get "warmed up". I hope the full drive will return soon. I am just really thankful that my husband has been great and supportive throughout this. He's been nothing but awesome, and thank God he got snipped so that I never have to worry about body altering birth control EVER AGAIN.

I find myself getting so angry at hearing all the stories of women's doctors who tell them "Your symptoms can't be because of the IUD." There is no way that the situation hasn't come up to them before with other patients. Logically, you would think they would start putting a pattern together. That leads me to believe that doctors are aware of side effects, and there is information being withheld from patients. There has to be some kind of study or research out there with the truth. How could hundreds of women have these symptoms, and NOT be taken seriously? Forget weight gain even, the Mirena seems to cause depression, or aggravates existing depression. It causes wide mood swings. That is so dangerous, why aren't the doctors taking it seriously? If it's for monetary gain, that's pretty piss poor. Not only is the Mirena expensive, but doctors are prescribing medication like Synthroid to control weight gain, anti-depressants, and even prescription acne medication. That is a lot of money. I know that for myself alone, it was around $100 out of pocket for a thyroid test (yeah my "false normal" test), and then $20 for the medication. Think of all the tests women are having run to figure out what's wrong since the IUD supposedly doesn't cause any symptoms. Think of the unnecessary medication women are having to take. Sounds borderline conspiracy to me, and I don't know about you ladies, but it really pisses me off.

Anyway, enough rambling for now. Keep the comments coming, and keep passing this blog along to other ladies in our situation. Hope you guys are having a wonderful week!

My period has wasted no time in arriving! Thank God I have no cramping or anything like that. In fact, I feel pretty good. I honestly am glad to get my period. As sucky as they are, I think it's something natural our body needs to go through. It obviously did me no favors mentally or physically to NOT have it.

I haven't noticed any change in the weight just yet, but it's obviously only been a couple of days. I am trying to not stress about it too much.

Also, I noticed that the Mirena Canada site mysteriously won't come up anymore. It used to come up as a PDF, but now won't come up at all. If you search Mirena Canada, and view the site as HTML instead of PDF it will come up, but it's all jumbled up:

Monday, February 11, 2008

I just had my Mirena IUD removed today, and I am really excited about it! Getting it out is MUCH easier than having it put in. I was fortunate in that she found the strings and had it out in literally 5 seconds. You can expect a crampy little pinch, much like a Pap Smear, and then it's over and done with. I have experienced a trace amount of bleeding, but nothing serious. I am prepared to get my period, since I have read that it returns with a vengence. I know this sounds crazy, but my middle already feels lighter. Not like I lost weight, but like there is less pressure in my middle. I always felt pressure like I was constipated or something.

Now the real test begins, to see if and how quickly I lose weight, and if my other symptoms improve.

I currently weigh 246.2 pounds. I have been going to the gym 3-4 times a week and running, doing the bike, and lifting both arm and leg weights, obviously with no results. I eat around 1200-1500 calories a day. I am not going to change any of my habits, and lets just see what this does. I went to the gym today, and I can't tell you how excited I was. I feel like finally I will be working out and get results, instead of feeling depressed and banging my head against a wall. I have a good feeling about it all.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I'll try to answer any and all of them I get. I am going to continue to post at least once a week, so that I can detail my weight loss progress, and anything else that happens to me.

Friday, February 8, 2008

If you are reading this blog, you may already be having suspicions that your IUD is the cause of any negative side effects you are experiencing. Please know that first of all, you are not alone, and you aren't crazy. You know your body better than anyone else, and you know if something is affecting your body in a negative way.

Before you go to a doctor, take the time to sit down and document what is happening, or has happened since you got the IUD. Make comparisons of life before and after the IUD. If you are having weight gain, make sure that you have taken personal responsibility and have changed your eating habits, and that you exercise. Take it from me, even if you are, the doctor is still going to challenge you. If you are doing nothing, the doctor may not take you seriously, and will just tell you to go exercise. In my opinion, this is just going to waste your time, because the exercise isn't going to help. You certainly should be, and it will keep you healthy, but it won't help you lose weight on the Mirena.

After you have documented what has happened to you, be sure to read the small print in BOTH the US and Canadian versions of the Mirena literature. (links listed on the side) I found that the Canadian version of the literature listed side effects NOT included in the US version, many of which I am experiencing. It also states that women with depression or mental issues shouldn't have the Mirena, something the US version omits. If you are having depression post-IUD, you are not doing anything wrong, and you're not crazy. It could very well be your IUD.

Now that you are armed with information, see your OBGYN and present your case. If they don't believe you, then you need to find a doctor who will. Don't let your doctor make you feel crazy or make you feel like a bad person. It is their JOB to listen to you and take you seriously. I finally had to dispense with my OBGYN and rely on my GP. She not only is going to remove my IUD, but she is doing it and listing it as a Pap Smear, so that it's covered by insurance. My OB wouldn't do this, and was going to charge me over $250 for removal. Your doctor should be a trusted ally, NOT an adversary!

My advice? If you are having negative side effects, don't wait the way I did. Get the IUD removed. In my experience, the side effects don't get better, so save yourself the frustration.

I had the Mirena IUD inserted in December of 2006 at a Planned Parenthood. I had not planned on getting anything as drastic as an IUD, since I had used the Pill on and off since I was 17 and was perfectly comfortable with it. However, the doctor there insisted that my blood pressure was too high for me to be on the Pill, Patch, Ring, or anything which contained hormones. One of my main concerns was that I would gain weight, since the Pill had always made me gain 10-15 pounds. The doctor assured me that since the Mirena didn't have the "bad" hormones, then I wouldn't gain weight. After discussing it with my husband (fiance at the time), I decided to go ahead and get the Mirena IUD.

I was fairly happy with the IUD at first. The insertion part of it wasn't exactly fun, but I didn't have any cramping or bleeding after. I was actually up and about my normal life within a couple of days. I enjoyed the freedom that the IUD gave my husband and I, and was satisfied with my investment thus far. My period even stopped coming, which I thought was great.

However, after a couple of months, I noticed that I had gained weight. I attributed this to the fact that I wasn't exercising. Since I didn't want to be fat for my wedding, my husband and I decided to take walks after work. We started walking a mile or more every day, and also started eating better. I cut red meat out of my diet, tried to limit salt and sweets, and ate vegetarian as much as I could. In the past, I would have easily dropped weight just doing these. However, instead, I gained more weight. My stomach appeared swollen, and my breasts were getting bigger, as if I were pregnant. I was understandably freaked out and bought a pregnancy test, which came out negative.

As my wedding approached I started dress shopping. What should have been a fun time reduced me to tears, since the size I normally wore didn't fit, and I had to go 2 sizes up. Even so, I looked pregnant in my dress. I decided to get more serious about my fitness. I walked/ran more, I completely cut out salt and desserts, and basically ate only vegetables, fruit, and grilled meat. My weight and breast size continued to climb. This is when I began to suspect that the Mirena was the reason I was gaining weight.

After my wedding, I decided to see an OBGYN, and see if she could shed some light. In short, not only was my blood pressure astronomically higher than pre-IUD, I had gained almost 40 pounds. I discussed my experience, and told the doctor that not only had I gained weight, I had also lost my libido. I was rewarded by being told that there was no way that the IUD had made me gain weight. She decided to test my thyroid to see if it was the cause of the weight gain. The test came back as normal, but she decided that the was a "false normal", and that she was going to put me on thyroid medicine anyway. This sounded incredibly stupid, and I felt angry and depressed. I felt like it was my fault, that I wasn't trying hard enough to lose weight. I cried because I felt so ugly and fat. My instinct told me that the Mirena was causing my weight gain, but I wanted to trust the doctor.

The thyroid medicine, as predicted, didn't help me, so I stopped taking it. My husband and I finally joined a gym in November, and I resolved to work much harder at my fitness. I began lifting weights, running, and riding the stability bike for at least 8-11 miles 3-4 times a week. I tried to stay positive and remember that weight loss wouldn't happen right away.

In my case, it hasn't happened at all. As of February, and all my hard work at the gym, I have GAINED 10 pounds. I took yet another pregnancy test (the 3rd or 4th one in a year), which was negative. I unloaded on my general practicioner, and told her every detail of my experience. I was finally told "I believe you. I believe it's the IUD." After a heart to heart with her, and some soul searching, I am having the Mirena removed on Monday.

This has been a hard year and some change. I have had to witness my strong, althletic body go to hell, and have been helpless to stop or reverse the changes. I have stretch marks like a pregnant woman. My breasts are freakishly huge, and my stomach is swollen and hard. I am so ashamed of my body now, I don't want my husband to see me naked, and I have never felt that way before. My once overly healthy libido has been squelched, and it takes me much longer to get aroused. I am depressed, and cry easily, which is unlike me. I have noticed myself lashing out at my husband over stupid matters, and he is a kind, wonderful person who does nothing but make me happy.

I have read story after story like this on the internet, and I only pray that I can return to normal in a timely manner.

Helpful Links

Why I'm Here

Just from doing a little research on the internet, I have found that there are an overwhelming amount of negative experiences from women who currently have the Mirena IUD. What I didn't find was much information on what happened to these women after they got their Mirena IUDs removed. If you are like me, once you confirm that the Mirena is the reason for your symptoms, you want to know that your body/life will return to normal if you get the IUD removed. After my own very negative experience, I have decided to create this blog to track what happens to me AFTER taking the Mirena out. I think the real test will be if the symptoms that have plagued me for a year go away, and I want other women to know that yes, things will be okay after removal.

I am aware that not every woman has a negative experience with the Mirena IUD. These are my personal experiences, and I simply hope that they help anyone else who is having a negative Mirena experience.

Also, any information I post deals with the Mirena IUD. I don't have any information on the Paraguard Copper IUD.